Printing and like machines



` 3 Sheets-Sheet -1 w. F. GoLDlNG PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES FIG.| r

sept. 15, 1959" Filed March 11, 1958 Sept. l5, 1959 w. F. GOLDING PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1l, 1958 FIG.` 5

Sept. 15, 1959 w. F. GoLDlNG PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 11,` 195e FIG. 6

FIG. 7

This invention relates to printing or like machines of `the kindcomprising a platen press wherein a tool plate is WiihdrsWabls VfrQiil si inseriable iniQ the press. by movement in a horizontal direction.

In relatively lars@ Printing machines f this kind the plates are often too heavy for manual handling. When the plates have to be removed from the machine. they have to be completely withdrawn fromthe `platens and carried away. The operating levels of the plates are often too high for convenient manual supporting .of the plate when after withdrawal they are no longer supported by the machine. A corresponding difficulty is of course experienced when fresh plates have to be inserted. The object of this invention is to overcome this difficulty.

According to Vthis inventionI provide a platen ,press wherein a tool plate is transferable in a horizontal direction from a position ,in which it is supported by a platen to a position clear of the platenand Yvice versa,` characterized by the provision of a support structure dimensioned to support the plate for a transfer movement from the platen into a position wherein the plate is supported entirely by the structure and vice versa, and lift means for moving the structure relative to the platen in a vertical direction.

One form of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a cutting and creasing press.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectioned and enlarged part of Fig. 1 as seen in a plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged part of Fig. 1 shown in a different operational position.

Fig. 5 is a reduced section on the line V-V in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the press comprises two opposite side frames 1, 2, a platen 3 positioned between the side frames 1, 2 and secured thereto, a chase 4 supported on the platen 3 and containing a cutting form 5, a vertically reciprocable platen 6 disposed between the frames 1, 2, and a cutting plate 7 supported on the platen 6.

The chase 4 and cutting plate 7 each define a tool plate of the press.

The side frame 2 is provided with an opening 8 through which the chase 4 and the plate 7 may be withdrawn from the platens 3 and 6, respectively, and transferred by a transfer movement in a horizontal direction to a position clear of the platens and vice versa.

On the outside of the frame 2 there is provided a support structure defined by two brackets or doors 9, 10 which are pivotally movable from a closed or inoperative position, Figs. 1 to 3, to an open or operative position, Figs. 4, 5. In the open position the doors extend from the frame 2 in the direction of the transfer movement and in the closed position they extend transversely thereto.

During the operation of the press, i.e. when the platen Patented Sepf- 15.195?

vce

.6 is moving, the doors r 9, 10 are kept closed and act as a safety guard to prevent access to the platens 3, 6.

Means for moving the doors 9, 10 in a lvertical direction comprise two lift members or slides 11 Supported vfor vertical movement in guides 1,2. The doors 9, 10 are supported on the slides 11 and are hinged thereto for Y,the purpose of their pivotal movement as aforesaid. Hinge lugs on the doors 9, 10 and the slides 11 are denoted 1,3 and 14, respectively. Each slide 11 is provided with a nut element l15 engaged by a screw 16, the screws 16 being connected through bevel gearing 17 to a common shaft 18 adapted to be driven by an electric motor through the intermediary of a reduction gearing 2Q. The arrangement is such that operation of the motor :1 9 causes the slides 11, and thus the doors 9, 10 to be jointly raised or lowered.

The doors 9 and 10 are provided on their inside with a series of rollers 21 and 22, respectively. The rollers 21, 22 are so positioned on the doors 9, 10 that when the doors are open the rollers form two parallel roller tracks for the support of the chaseV 4V or the plate 7 between them.

To effect the removal of, for instance, the plate 7 from the press, Figs. 4, 5, the doors 9, 10are opened and are moved by operation of the motor 19 until the rollers 211 22 are Vhorizontally in line with the plate 7. The doors 9., 10 ,are then said to be situated at the transfer level, .i.e. the level at which the plate 7 can be transfer-red from the platen 6 onto the rollers 21., 212.. and vice versa lby movement in a horizontal direction. Fig. 5 shows the plate 7 as partly transferred from the platen 6 to the rollers 21, 22. The doors 9, ill are dirnensioned to provide support for number of rollers 21, 22 suicient to support the plate 7 entirely thereon, i.e. in a position completely clear of the platen 6.

When the plate 7 has been completely withdrawn from the platen 6 and is situated on the doors 9, 10, the latter are lowered by operation of the motor 19 until the plate 7 is seated on a trolley 23 or the like, Fig. l, placed in position in front of the side frame 2. Thereafter the plate 7 is wheeled away from the press and another plate may be installed by reversal of the process described. It is to be understood that, when positioned on the doors 9, 10, the plate 7 must of course not only be clear of the platen 6 but also clear of the side frame 2 so as not to foul the latter during the raising or lowering movement of the doors 9, 10.

Removal or installation of the chase 4 is carried out in a similar way except that here the transfer level of the doors 9, 10 is of course higher than is the case in respect of the plate 7.

It is desirable to prevent any tendency of the doors 9, 10 to pivot away from their open position While supporting the chase 4 ior cutting plate 7. To this end there is provided at each of doors 9, 10 a locking member or key 25 intended to engage keyways 24 Iin the lugs 13 of the Kadjacent door 9 or 10 when open. The doors 9, 10 are movable vertically to a position above the transfer level of the chase 4, and the keys 25 terminate at their upper ends in such a position lthat the doors 9, 10 are engaged by the keys 25 when situated at or below the transfer level of the chase 4 but are disengaged from the keys when situated more than a small distance above this transfer level. In other words, the doors 9, 1t) can only be opened and closed when situated well above the higher one of the two transfer levels and if the chase 4 or the cutting plate are to be transferred onto the doors 9, 10, the latter have iirst to be lowered into engagement with the keys 25.

Fig. 6 shows the upper end of one of the keys 25, this end being denoted 26. The lower lug 13 of the adjacent door 9 is seen as engaging the key 25. A short length 0f key 27 is provided for the upper lug 13 so that the latter is supported when out of engagement with the key 25 and while the lower lug 13 is still in engagement therewith.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1Q A platen press comprising a frame, a platen situated at one side being the inside of the frame, a tool' plate connectable in an operative position to the platen, an opening provided in said frame adjacent the operative position of the tool plate, the tool plate being withdrawable from the platen in a horizontal direction through said opening into a withdrawn position at the other side being the outside of said frame, the opening being dimensioned for the free passage of the tool plate therethrough, a pair of doors pivotally connected to the frame at opposite sides of said opening, the doors being movable about their pivotal connections to the frame between a position closing said opening and an open position wherein the doors extend from the outside of the frame in a direction parallel to the direction in which the tool plate is withdrawable, means for locking the doors against pivotal movement when in the open position, elevator means for raising and lowering the doors, two guides provided respectively on the two doors, the guides being dmensioned to support the tool plate for withdrawal from the operative position into a position wherein the tool plate -is wholly supported on the guides and vice versa incident upon the doors having been opened and having been 4 a pair of vertical guides positioned adjacent the platen, a pair of slides respectively engaging said guides for movement therealong, a pair of brackets connected to the respective slides for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between an extended position in which the brackets extend in the direction of movement of the tool plate and a retracted position in which the brackets extend transversely to the direction of movement of the tool plate, the brackets being dimensioned to support the tool plate at said edge portions thereof when the brackets are in the extended position, elevator means for moving the slides jointly along said guides between positions above and below a position in which said brackets register with the operative position of the tool plate on the platen so that the tool plate is movable from the platen onto said brackets and vice versa, means for locking the brackets in their extended position, and means responsive to the height to which the brackets are moved for rendering said locking means inoperative when the brackets are raised -beyond a determined position above said position of register and for rendering the locking means operative when the brackets are moved into a j Iposition below said determined position so that incident moved by the elevator means into a position of register A between the guides and the operative position of the tool plate, and the doors being movable by said elevator means through positions including said position of register.

2. A platen press comprising a platen, a tool plate connectable to the platen in an operative position thereon, the tool plate being movable in the direction of two opposite parallel edge portions thereof horizontally from the platen into an inoperative position clear of the platen,

upon the brackets having been pivoted into the extended position while situated above said determined position lowering of the brackets beyond the determined position results -in the brackets being automatically locked in the extended position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,585,005 Zaun May 18, 1926 2,236,317 Howland Mar. 25, 1941 2,420,813 Camerota May 20, 1947 2,635,771 Black 1 U v Apr. 21, 1953 

